The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe, S. 150

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

Bulgarian military action. With an enormous front some 820 miles in length towards Bulgaria, with her main line of communication NishSalonica within reach of the first successful Bulgarian raid, Serbia’s military position was extremely dangerous. The only chance to improve it was quick, energetic action against Bulgaria. The Serbian Headquarters did not expect by such a move to conquer Bulgaria or to annihilate her army completely, but they rightly judged that it would hinder the Bulgarian mobilisation in the western districts, and by occupation of some important centres it might cripple her forces considerably and greatly hamper her action. In that way the enemy’s victory might be delayed, and by gaining some weeks the Allies might fulfil their promise of assisting Serbia. The Serbian population and army might have retreated to the south, using the railway line Nish-Salonica, which would have saved many thousands of lives and enormous quantities of war material. With this object in view the Serbian Headquarters ordered a new concentration of the army along the SerboBulgarian frontier. But the diplomacy of the Entente Powers allowed itself to be the perfect dupe of Bulgaria. Fearing that the Serbian action might spoil its cherished play in Sofia, it brought strong pressure to bear upon the Serbian Government, which prevented the Serbian military action against Bulgaria. Since that moment 134